Powerful 7.8 Ecuador quake kills at least 235. -President Rafael Correa

At least 235 people have been confirmed dead and over 1,500 people injured after Ecuador was hit by its most powerful earthquake in decades.

Some 10,000 troops and 3,500 police are being deployed in the affected areas, as rescue operations got under way.

The magnitude-7.8 quake struck early on Saturday evening.

Coastal areas in the north-west were closest to the epicentre and officials say the death toll is likely to rise as information begins to come in.

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has cut short a visit to Italy to fly back and deal with the crisis.

He has declared a state of emergency and said the priority was finding survivors.

"Everything can be rebuilt, but lives cannot be recovered, and that's what hurts the most," he said...
 BBC
17/4/16
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Related:

• Dozens dead after powerful earthquake hits Ecuador coast. A state of emergency was declared (Depth 10 km, local time: 18:58) 

• El vicepresidente de la República, Jorge Glas, informó que hasta el momento se han registrado 28 muertos producto del terremoto que se registró en el país. El temblor duró entre 40 y 50 segundos.